Auction Update Review
The Tide Comes In
For the week ending Saturday September 24th seven sales were archived: two in dollars, one in Euros and four in British Pounds. Sales totaled $7,227,055 against the aggregate high bid of $10,948,335 – achieving 71% of the total high estimate. Two thousand six hundred eighty-six lots were offered and 2,147 sold for a stellar 80% sell-through. That the percentage of lots sold was high and the percentage achieved of the aggregate high estimate lower [71%] suggests bidders held back on some of the most expensive lots. In a period of economic uncertainty market perception of fair market value will be in flux and valuations, in some sectors, decline. This said, no one week provides more than anecdotal evidence of market breadth and direction.
Book buyers buy books however, not markets and so long as estimates, availability and estimated probability of reappearance seem appropriate purchases in this period may prove to be good investments.
For the week ahead 16 sales are scheduled. The fall season is upon us.
Monday Sept 26
Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F.Tajan: Collection d’un amateur de marine;
Australian Book Auctions: Books, Maps, Prints, Manuscripts;
Cowan’s Auctions: Mass marketed Stereoviews, Curved Mounts;
Tuesday Sept 27
Australian Book Auctions: Books, Maps, Manuscripts …continued;
Bonhams: Books, Maps and Historical Photographs;
Christie’s: L’age d’or du rail – Souvenir de la Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-lits;
Dorotheum: Posters, Advertising Art, Comics, Film and Photo History;
Sotheby’s: Old Master, Modern and Contemporary Prints;
Wednesday Sept 28
Christie’s: Americana Print Collection;
Mealy’s Auctioneers:The Collector’s Sale;
Thursday Sept 29
Bloomsbury Auctions: Modern and Contemporary Prints;
Christie’s: Travel, Science and Natural History;
Key’s Fine Arts: Book Days 1;
Friday Sept 30
Key’s Fine Arts: Book Days 2;
Keifer-Buch-and-Kunstauktionen: Books;
Marc van de Wiele Auctions: Books
The week is thick with possibilities.
Bruce McKinney
AE